Can I put Vicks vapor rub on my kitties nose to treat URI?

ty3535

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Enzo has A LOT of congestion. We have a humidifier running 24/7 but it doesn't seem to be helping. I'm wondering if a touch of Vicks under the nose is a possibility?
 

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No, Vicks Vapo Rub contains eucalyptus oil which is toxic to cats. Please don't use it or other similar OTC medicines on your cat. (Side note - if you use Vicks on yourself, wash your hands after applying it and keep the cat from licking your skin)

Have you taken your cat to the vet? The vet can prescribe something to help with the congestion and suggest non-medical at home things you can do.
 
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hexiesfriend

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If he's congested he needs a visit to the vet Please don't wait too long. I the meantime I would run the shower hot and put your kitty in the steamed up bathroom for a couple minutes. If your kitty is sneezing then the steam whatever source is working.
 
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ty3535

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Oh he's been to the vet already and she administered an injection of antibiotics. I think I'll try adding Vicks directly to the vaporizer so he gets the benefits without the risk of ingestion. How long does a URI usually take to clear up?
 
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ty3535

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Today he woke up stuffier than yesterday. I'm hoping it clears up a bit overnight. I bought some of the pads that go into the vaporizer and I'm hoping that opens him up a bit.
 

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When I had a really sick kitty, I put eucalyptus oil in the well of the vaporizer to help her breathe easier.  Be sure to clean the vaporizer and the well daily and use rubbing alcohol if there's any sticky stuff from the oil. 
 
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ty3535

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I did pick up some liquid that you use in the vaporizer and I'm really hoping that starts to help. He doesn't seem to be getting better and I'm getting very worried.
 

stephanietx

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You can put saline drops in his nose.  I use Little Noses (for kids) drops.  Just one drop in each nose twice a day.  Don't do it too close to eating time or else it just runs back out their nose.
 

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Please stop trying home remedies, clearly the antibiotic shot was not enough, this happens quite often, and requires additional oral meds now.

Sometimes covenia does the job, sometimes it does not, so your vet MUST be given an update and that he is not improving, and he/she will likely prescribe an oral med now.
 
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ty3535

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Please stop trying home remedies, clearly the antibiotic shot was not enough, this happens quite often, and requires additional oral meds now.

Sometimes covenia does the job, sometimes it does not, so your vet MUST be given an update and that he is not improving, and he/she will likely prescribe an oral med now.
She gave him oral doxycycline today but explained to me that it's viral and the antibiotics are only used to treat secondary infections and that this just has to run its course.
 

catwoman707

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Correct, it is viral, which antibiotics do not heal.

However, viruses often will become bacterial too, so what happens without antibiotics is, your cat's immune system is fully occupied with fighting off bacteria that is trying to invade, which leaves no fight for the virus itself.

When you add antibiotics, they do all the work in fighting the bacteria so it frees up their immune system and allows it to do it's job, fighting off the virus itself.

If you just started the doxycycline today, expect to see a sign of improvement by the 5th dose.

Be sure to give it on time, as it only lasts a specific time period in his system, and needs to stay working for him continuously.
 
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ty3535

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Thanks so much. If the congestion isn't cleared by tomorrow I'll call the vet again because I'm 90% sure that's why he's not eating. He goes up to the food bowl and tries to sniff and when he can't smell it he walks away. After the 5th dose of doxycycline would you expect to even see improvement in the congestion?
 

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URIs can take a fair bit of time to clear up... we've been through them with all our cats, too, right after we brought them home from the shelter. One thing that a friend mentioned years ago was that subcutaneous fluids can be a real help if cats are taking a long time to recover and get dehydrated. We did get fluids for one of our cats--she and her sister had been sick for more than a week by then and had been taking antibiotics--and they really seemed to perk her up.

And this may sound really weird but if Enzo has a special small place, like a condo box, he likes to hang out, it might help to put the food in there so he can smell it in an enclosed space. When our two current cats got their URIs after the shelter, one of them decided she wanted to spend most of her time in the duvet cover, at the foot of the bed. She hollowed out a space for herself and I put a small dish of food in there. The cats were still eating stinky Friskies the shelter had sent home with them so it smelled horrible in there... but it did get her to eat. The vet came for their first exam house call and loved it!

I hope Enzo starts feeling better soon!
 
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ty3535

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Thank you! We're on 2 days of him being really congested and I wasn't anticipating the URI last thing long. He actually doesn't like closed in spaces so that will be tough. We're getting about 2 jars of baby food per day into him and are hoping his congestion clears up soon. I'm thinking about taking him back to the vet tomorrow to see if a decongestant is available for cats. I just feel so sad for him and want to make him as comfortable as possible. Do you know if the 2 jars of food is sufficient?
 

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Have you tried sitting in a steamy bathroom with him yet? People have had luck doing this, I've personally only had to do this with sick human babies. Do this prior to feeding and maybe he will eat on his own.

You can also use the saline nose drops for babies called little noses.

These things will help loosen and thin the nasal congestion.

I'm not sure about the caloric content of the baby food but I think it sounds positive that you are able to get him to eat 2 jars. Should be sufficient to support him through this rough patch.

Contacting your vet is never a bad idea.

:hugs: I know you are working so hard on helping your kitty get well and I know this is so hard especially on the back of an IBD diagnosis.

Try the steam and Little Noses saline drops and see if that helps :)
 

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I have had a lot of luck using this treatment with my cats. None of them ever stopped eating though.  Casey came to me as a 7 week old kitten with a URI.  He did not have any symptoms right away and shared it with my other 3 cats before I even knew he was sick.  I took him to the vet immediately when he started showing symptoms and he was put on antibiotics.  I have 4 cats.  Only one other cat required vet treatment.  I came home from work one day and Starbuck was sneezing, coughing and wheezing.  I called and made a vet appointment for that evening but had to wait a few hours for hubby to get home from work with our only car. She sounded terrible it reminded me of what happened to one my friends when she had an asthma attack.  I called the vet and told them what was happening since I could not get there right away and was told to go ahead and put her in the steamy bathroom.  It helped her to breathe better almost immediately.  I still took her to the vet and even though she did not sound sick anymore they gave her an antibiotic injection.  My other 2 cats did not get really bad they were just sneezing a little bit and sleeping more than normal.  The other two I just did steam treatments for and they were fine in a few days.  It would not hurt to try this.
 
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